Sheridan Hollow group calls for 100 percent renewable energy to power plaza

Residents urge state leaders in Albany to also consider geo-thermal system

A view of the Empire State Plaza on Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Albany, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

ALBANY - Although the state plans to draw up to 50 percent of its power from solar energy to power Empire State Plaza, those who fought hard to ensure plans didn’t include natural gas-fired turbines say the latest changes don’t go far enough.

The Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy (SHARE) is urging the New York Power Authority and state Office of General Services to go with 100 percent renewable energy in their latest plan to develop a large-scale solar array in Oneida County that will power up to half of the plaza's energy needs. The plan also calls for replacing the diesel-powered emergency generators housed at the Sheridan Avenue site, upgrading to LED lighting throughout the state complex and upgrading one of the steam-driven chillers.

The old steel smokestack at the former ANSWERS plant — a decommissioned state-run trash incinerator — also will be razed.

SHARE led the charge in pushing the state to examine renewable energy opportunities for powering the plaza, but group founder, Albany County Legislator Merton Simpson, said the state's new plan is a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough.

“The Amazon (rainforest) is burning. The glaciers are melting,” he said. “This is no time for half-measures.”

Originally, the state had planned to install two natural-gas fired turbines totaling 16 megawatts in the former trash incinerator facility in Sheridan Hollow to help power and heat the 96-acre plaza complex. Officials had expected to save more than $2.7 million annually in energy costs and remove more than 25,600 tons of greenhouse gases each year.

This will include $50 million to replace the existing emergency generators with efficient, low-emission units; $30 million to upgrade one of the steam-driven chillers to reduce local gas use and emissions by 18 percent; and $16 million to install LED lighting throughout the complex.

Most of the 50 percent power generation will come from the remote solar array, but officials said they're also examining buildings in Albany for on-site panels, too. Some rooftop options include the State Museum building, the old ANSWERS plant and the parking garage in Sheridan Hollow, officials have said.

Simpson said the state complex should be powered 100 percent with renewable energy, and SHARE continues to call on the state to seriously consider geothermal as an option to help achieve that target.

Liz Moran, New York Public Interest Research Group’s environmental policy director, applauded the efforts made by neighbors and the SHARE group.

“This is a huge step. This is far from where they began,” she said. “With that said, they’re right to keep pushing for 100 percent renewable, clean energy in their community and to power Empire State Plaza.”

The Sheridan Hollow neighborhood has a long history with the ANSWERS plant, having dealt with soot and grime from the trash-burning facility that triggered respiratory problems for some residents. The incinerator, which produced energy for the Capitol complex, operated on Sheridan Avenue for more than a decade before it shut down in 1994.

The latest plans for powering the plaza will benefit the community directly, Moran said.

“What was there before had been polluting their community for years, leading to asthma and poor air quality overall,” she said. “The direct health benefits are one of the most exciting benefits and one of the most important benefits of this transition.”

With more science showing the need for localities to address climate change, along with the state’s recently passed Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, Moran said now is the time to be ambitious with renewable, clean energy projects.

The state legislation passed earlier this year lays out goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in New York. The state aims to reduce emissions 85 percent by 2050, while also making investments in renewable energy a priority.

Keeping all that in mind, the SHARE group will continue to push for considering geothermal as an option for powering the plaza. The group wants to know why state officials won’t consider geothermal.

“I’m just really concerned that it’s late in the day with what’s happening in the world to be playing along the edges,” Simpson said. “We can’t afford this.”

Amanda Fries covers the Capitol in Albany and state government for the Times Union, focusing on the state workforce, housing, budget issues, malfeasance and other forms of corruption. She first started in June 2016 covering the city and county of Albany for the Times Union. Got a tip? Contact her at 518-454-5353 or afries@timesunion.com.